Yeah, I think the condemnation of GM for not building what people wanted is simplistic if not untrue. People wanted big SUVs and pickup trucks; GM delivered. As long as that equation stayed constant, GM was able to hang on to this myopic market strategy.

But GOOD companies build what people don't know they want, not until they see it. In 1975, no one knew they wanted an Accord, but Honda delivered this interesting mix of comfort, economy, and fun which clicked with consumers and Honda took off. No one knew they wanted a Prius until it came out; no one wanted an I-pod until they saw it. A year ago, I had no idea I wanted a netbook, and now I take mine everywhere.

GM has been in the business of making inferior copies of popular cars. When they did have something unique--the early Saturns, Saabs--they didn't know what to do with it and turned it into a Chevy clone.

They need to come out with something truly original; maybe the Volt will be this car. They need to not just equal the competition they are copying, they need to surpass them by a significant factor; a Malibu has to be better than an Accord in every way for it to turn people's heads. They need to deliver something unique, like the new hybrid Fusion, which is in a class by itself.

They need to build the cars people don't know they want yet, but will want when they see them. Until they do that, they'll just be canning generic green beans in plain yellow cans.

posted by 70.233.160...

• Lutz is Back!, Cloudship, Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:01:23
  • This should scare everyone................, MI-Roger , Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:52:07
  • Re: Lutz is Back!, steve, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:32:44
  • Re: Lutz is Back!, TG, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:45:24
  • Other than for repeating often to become truth..., AeroBaron, Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:34:35
    • building what people don't know they want, OKSaabs, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:36 <-- Viewing This Message
      • I think you're giving Honda too much credit, AeroBaron, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:29:31
        • Hummer, TML , Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:41:49
      • Mostly agree., Noel, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:33:29
        • SUV=Wagon when big 3 stopped making wagons, steve, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:46:47
          • SUV = Government Sanctioned Wagon/Hatchback, Jim, Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:47:45
            • Not buying that arguement., Noel, Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:42:08
          • Yes, but they did create the SUV market., Noel, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 07:17:35
            • Re: Yes, but they did create the SUV market., cloudship, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 08:29:34
              • Recommend book, FauxRealism, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:38:07
                • Mass Market Demand for SUVs, cloudship, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 19:29:49
                  • Wasn't the Suburban first?, steve, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:06:45
                  • How many SUVs have you owned, and which ones?, AeroBaron, Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:02:44
                    • Re: How many SUVs have you owned, and which ones?, Cloudship, Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:07:54
    • Re: Other than for repeating often to become truth..., FauxRealism, Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:56:51
  • Same dumb BOD, newwithasaab, Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:12:28

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